Occasionally we sneak over the River Tamar and out of Cornwall. On this particular trip we popped into the neighbouring county of Devon. I wanted to visit the red cliffs, sand and soil.
This is the beach where we started our short walk along the coastal path, near Exmouth.
My shadow and I thought we would walk towards Budleigh Salterton - my wife agreed. So quite a special moment!
Yes, the cliffs are definitely red in colour with the occasional green of the seaweed.
The red is from iron minerals which have weathered over millions of years to produce the colour.
There are also the remains of fossilised roots to be found. These are whiter in colour against the red rocks.
As I understand it these roots go back some 35 million years to the Triassic Period. Ancient plants grew here amongst a desert river. The roots of these plants burrowed down into the soft red sand of the desert, drawing up any water they could find.
Minerals that were dissolved in the water grew in crystals around the roots, encasing them. As time passed the streams moved and the plants died but the nodules that encased their roots remained.
Minerals that were dissolved in the water grew in crystals around the roots, encasing them. As time passed the streams moved and the plants died but the nodules that encased their roots remained.
Fossil roots like these can be seen on other parts of the Jurassic Coast. This, however, is the only place where they can be seen easily.
The photo above shows the view when approaching Budleigh Salterton and below getting nearer still.
The beach at Budleigh Salterton is now in view, plus some beach huts.
... and the pebbles that make up the beach.
Further along the pebble beach with two people fishing in the distance.
The following photo is looking back to where we had walked along the coastal path with the red cliffs.
Before we retraced our steps we wandered around the small, but interesting, town. Unfortunately I only snapped one photo. This is of the museum, previously a cottage built in 1812.
Now we are heading back to where we began our walk.
The gulls were peaceful on the beach.
To finish: another look at those wonderful cliffs.
... and home we go. Hope you have an interesting week ahead. Good wishes ~ Mike.
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It's good to go further afield occasionally and the Devon beaches look so different to the Cornwall ones you show us. Lovely photo's and scenery. 😊
ReplyDeleteThanks David, good to have a change now and again. Hopefully, next year there will be more opportunities to travel - that's if the Covid can be controlled.
DeleteWow, what a difference on t'other side of the Tamar! Fascinating looking place with all those Triassic roots. The beach sand makes it feel like Mars. The soil in the farmers field is rather wonderful too. Glad you enjoyed your walk Mike and thank you for sharing. Lulu x
ReplyDeleteHello Lulu, the red soil and cliffs has always fascinated me - as you say different to this side of the Tamar. Hope you have agood week, don't work too hard.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, I spent so much of my youth on the Dorset and Devon coasts and I never saw those red cliffs. Remarkable, striking and, to me, very appealing. A lovely walk, Mike!
ReplyDeleteHello, the cliffs always appeal to me and are so different to other Devon coasts. I also like Dorset, lived in Poole fo a while. All good wishes.
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